Foot corrective device



1954 E. H. BEITTMANN ETAL FOOT CORRECTIVE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1951 VEN ORS E rnes e t t mam n Jc gob 11 Bass aches ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1954 E. H. BETTMANN ETAL FOOT CORRECTIVE DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1951 VENTORS ettmann Jam I! ,Basseches 97 H JC MW w E ATTORNEY United States Patent assassz roor CORRECTIVE DEVICE Ernest H. Bettmann, White Plains, and Jacob T. Basseches, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application January 6, 1951, Serial No. 204,752

11 Claims. (Cl. 368.5)

This invention relates to foot corrective devices which may be directly built into shoes, or to be worn with shoes for insertion therein, and more particularly to a combinar tion shoe construction and shoe insert for the treatment of foot weaknesses; and still more particularly to a device to effect correct foot support by articulation and resilient stimulation.

It is recognized in the mechanical physiological consideration of the foot that in walking the sequence of weight shifting can be traced to a sort of biplane action, with the point of contact first at the heel, then to a point adjacent the fifth metatarsal head, between which two points there is formed a lateral walking axis and followed by a pronation adduction motion of the forefoot, ending in the third point of support. By locomotion in this fashion, with the rear and middle foot in supination and the forefoot in pronation, the normal muscle and joint relation is preserved and the physiological grasping rhythm of the foot established.

It is understood that corrective considerations must take into account the insufiicient muscular performance involved in the shifting from the lateral and middle foot axes toward the medial side of the foot, causing distortion of the ankle foot unit:

1. There is an internal rotation of the lower tibia and ankle mortice;

2. A shift of the calcaneus inwardly and medially;

31.{ A medial and downward displacement of the talus nec 4. A sagging and medial distortion of the cornerstone, the scaphoid bone leading to a sub-luxation in the talo scaphoid joint;

5. Overstretching of its surrounding joint capsule ligaments and the attached supporting muscular ropes (tibiales).

One would think that a corrective rigid arch supporting device directed toward a reduction of the unstable cornerstone joint would correct the other deformities and muscular balance. However, a concomitant factor to' the internal rotation and sagging is the tremendous force of elongation by the toggle joint action exercised in relatively stiffened arch and shoe sole before full pronation of the forward part of the foot takes place in the sequence of weight shifting. This partial elongation at least reduces the strength of the arch further to resist the sagging and medial distortion as the initial elongation of the arch presents a weakened supporting structure to the weight of the body.

In accordance with this invention it is anticipated that if the sequence of weight shifting and the action of pronation of the forefoot can be restrained until the motion of transference of weight has been completed, the resistance of the foot to elongation would then be increased and the articulating force necessary to restrain internal rotation of the lower tibia and ankle mortice or the shift of the calcaneus would be minimized.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a device which has a corrective articulating force restrained to the minimum by structural weakness of the arch induced by elongation and restrained in a sequential distribution of the weight of the body to the foot in pronating about the heel at the forefoot about the head of the fifth to the head of the first metatarsal.

Still more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a corrective device characterized by one which applies a corrective force in an oblique plane from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral without substantially interfering with the sequence of weight shifting upon the three principal surfaces of support of the foot in weight shift or walking so that the articulating force may be most effectively applied before an internal rotation about the calcaneus has occurred to a degree materially to reduce the effectiveness of the articulating force.

Still more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide an arch corrective device which combines the action of the sequence of support of the weight of the body upon the foot most effectively to stimulate, by articulation, the depressed scaphoid from the sagging or distorted position thereof to a correct physiological position.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of another embodiment of the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections to illustrate the articulating action of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 2 illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Making reference to the drawing, there is shown a shoe 10 within which is shown the foot 11, with the foot bones shown in phantom. The shoe upper 12 includes a relatively flexible sole 13 merging rearwardly into the supporting heel 14 which desirably has its face 15 angularly directed from the edge 16 to the edge 17, to lie substantially normal to the axis of ultimate support comprising the point A which is the point of first support beneath the heel bone, os calcis, to the point B which is the head of the fifth metatarsal and to the point C adjacent the head of the first metatarsal. The walking phase involving locomotion and weight shifting may be characterized as principally involving first contacting the point A, then the point B, providing an axis along the line A-B about which the foot pronates to reach the point C and substantially distribute the weight upon the three principal points A, B and C.

The angular face 15 as described assures greater flexibility and pronation about the axis A--B before substantial elongation has been effected in transferring the weight of the body first to the lower tibia 18 and the ankle mortice 19 to elongate the foot and modify the curvature of the arch assembly; The edge of the heel 16 to produce a rigid support is desirably positioned rearwardly at a point beneath the critical extension or peak 20b of the scaphoid 20a toward the calcaneus and extends angularly to the point 17 adjacent the cuboid 200, thus leaving a substantially flexible overhang beyond the face of the heel 15, tending toward greater yieldability of the sole of the shoe and foot for pronation about the axis AB to support the foot upon the point C. With this construction there is provided a yieldably and resiliently supported scaphoid elevator pad supporting arm 21 lying symmetrically beneath the scaphoid 20a adjacent the critical extension or peak 20b which is flexibly supported on the arm 22 to lie above the inner sole, to overhang at a point above the face 15, with support solely rearwardly in the heel portion 23 to itterligd angularly and substantially normally to the axis The supporting arm 22 is preferably anchored adjacent its end 24 by prongs 25 which may be driven into the upper layer 26 of the insole, to penetrate the heel to aid in holding the arm 22 against shifting. The medial portion 27 of the arm 22 is bowed or arched upwardly and reflexively downwardly to form a fulcrum loop 28, with an upstanding branch 29 to which the scaphoid pad 21 is attached. The pad is generally ovoid in contour, to supply an extended comfortable pressure area on the instep symmetrically positioned beneath the a peak of thescaphoid. A pressure plate 30 conforming" to the heel contour of the shoe and made of inflexible metal sheeting bears down upon the bowed medial portion 27. It will be apparent that when the weight of the foot is applied to the plate 30, the arm 22 is deriected from the bowed condition about the sliding fulcrum 28, to urge, by articulating movement, the pad into contact with the instep adjacent the scaphoid resiliently to counteract the pronation about the axis AB, without influencing the movement of the forefoot in its contact with the point C. The degree of deflection of the arm 21 may be controlled by the bowed condition of the arm 22 and a spongy pad 31 which is thick at the center and tapers to a thin perimeter, such as of rubber, may underlie the arm 22 to restore the bowed condition with each step.

Additionally, the magnitude of deflection of the scaphoid pad supporting arm 29 may be altered by the adjustable features of the camming bracket 32 which is affixed to the shoe by a horizontal branch 33 thereof attached to the edge of the sole 34. The camming bracket 32 has an upright arm 35 which carries an adjusting screw 36 which is transversely directed to penetrate through the upper to direct the end 37 thereof into contact with the vertical scaphoid pad arm 29. A turnknob or screw head 38 may adjustably position the end 37.

By the arrangement described, it will be understood that the deflection of the elevator scaphoid pad on its supporting arm may be controlled by the adjusting screw 36. The pressure of the foot accordingly articulates the scaphoid pad supporting arm 29 and the deflection may likewise be altered by the setting of the set screw 36 and its camming effect upon the elongation of the arm 22.

In Figures 4, and 6, the articulating scaphoid supporting arm 22 is shown in a manner to illustrate the normal bowed condition of the scaphoid elevator and the articulation movement imparted to the pad supporting arm 29 as pressure of the weight of the foot adjacent the heel is applied to the bowed portion and transmitted to the foot adjacent the scaphoid, to modify the effect of the walking phase of the foot, which may be described as a biplane action, with the heel and the fifth metatarsal head forming substantially the lateral axis about the line AB, with the heel and the mid foot in supination, followed by a pronation adduction motion of the forefoot, ending in pressure at the point C as the medial anterior rolling off plane. An unrestrained support for flexibility of the sole 12 beyond the heel permits the locomotion as described without restraint, with the articulation effected by the scaphoid elevator to follow the same sequentially rather than to interfere with the initial pronation adduction motion which may result in elongation of the foot to weaken the support afforded by a distribution of the weight of the foot adjacent the surface points A-BC.

An additional corrective factor may be included by a pronator in the form of a known metatarsal button (not shown) at the forefoot in the direction from the point B to point C.

While there has been described an assemblage in Which the counter 39 serves as the anchor or abutment, to restrain any shifting in response to the articulating force of the scaphoid elevator as it resiliently presses angularly against the instep adjacent the scaphoid, the elevator may be built as a separable unit for installation in standard shoe construction or in a shoe which may have a heel with a rearwardly positioned flexure point, in accordance with that previously described. For this purpose, reference is made to Figures 7 and 8 comprising a flexure arm or band 40 bowed upwardly at 41, as in the prior embodiment, and having a rearwardly positioned fulcrum point 42. A counter 43 forming a heel anchor is stiffened to minimize flexure. The arm 40 is angularly directed adjacent the instep, with the angularity directed as previously described with regard to the arm 22, to provide a reflexively curved portion 44', terminating in a loop 45, hingedly supported in the bearing portion 46 of the scaphoid pad supporting arm 47. The branch 40 is covered by the heel plate 48 which exerts its primary pressure on the upwardly curved portion 49 of the bow 41. A slot 50 is provided, through which the neck 51 of the scaphoid pad supporting arm passes, to form a fulcrum point 52. A sponge rubber pad 53, conforming to the bow portion 41, thick in the center and tapering to a thin perimeter, may underlie the same over the insole layer 54 of the shoe, adjacent the rear portion of the shoe.

With the construction as described, the walking movement as previously described serves to articulate the scaphoid pad elevator arm by the distending effect on the arm as the weight of the foot is brought on the plate 48. The elongation of the pad spring 40, as shown in dotted line, tilts the scaphoid pad supporting end 55 adjacent the instep beneath the scaphoid bone, as previousiy described, thus resiliently articulating the scaphoid with each step, without interferring with the natural pronation adduction motion of the forefoot, as previously described about the axis A-B towards the point C.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 there is provided an articulating arm 56 having a bowed portion 57, one end of which terminates in a rigid counter reinforcing branch 58, providing a stable fulcrum point 59. The opposite end 60 forms a bearing point 61 for the scaphoid pad supporting arm 62, which is extended in an upright direction. A reinforcement 63 is provided, for purposes which will appear presently.

The bowed portion of the articulating arm 56 may, as in the prior embodiments, be reinforced by a block of sponge rubber of like resilient material 64, conforming on its upper surface to the pad portion 57 and being flat on the lower surface, to conform with the insole layer of the shoe. Superimposed on the bowed portion there is the heel plate 65, which may be riveted to the arm 56 by the rivet 66. Thus, pressure on the plate 65 at the foot tends to link the arm '56 and tilt the same to direct the scaphoid pad adjacent the end 67 into engagement with the instep beneath the scaphoid peak. In all other respects, the shoe insert actuates to correct the foot and provide resilient stimulation by articulation as in the prior embodiment, it being understood that the direction of position of the transverse arm 56 is angular transverse of the foot and substantially normal to the axial line AB.

The corrective influence to obtain the resilient articulation for counteraction of the varus tilt is about a hinge line substantially normal to the effective axis AB as a theoretical center. The flexibility of the sole, especially in connection with what may be regarded as a reverse Thomas heel which may serve to augment the pronation of the forward portion of the foot, is accomplished in instances by including a metatarsal button as described and which is held in position by an insole in a manner which will be readily understood so that the device may be ino corporated in the shoe when constructed or in a separate shoe insert.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A foot corrective device having a scaphoid pad mounted on a resilient arm mounted adjacent the sole of a shoe at an oblique angle to apply when weighted an upward unsymmetrical articulated corrective force from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral adjacent the instep, the pad being positioned substantially symmetrically to the peak of the scaphoid.

2. A shoe having a heel and a corrective device comprising a scaphoid pad mounted on a resilient arm mounted adjacent the sole of the shoe at an oblique angle to apply when weighted an upward unsymmetrical articulated corrective force from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral adjacent the instep, the pad being positioned substantially symmetrically to the peak of the scaphoid, and wherein the heel of the shoe has a front edge substantially normal to the axis of said arm and receding at the instep in relation to the outer edge of the heel.

A shoe as set forth in claim 2 including a bracket rigldly supporting an adjusting screw bearing against the resilient arm.

4. A foot corrective device having a scaphoid supportarticulates the scaphoid supporting branch of the arm under the weight of the foot.

6. A shoe having a foot corrective device comprising a pressure articulated arm extended at one end, supporting an upwardly effective scaphoid pad, a plate for supporting the other end of the arm, said arm being extended obliquely from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral adjacent the instep, said arm being resiliently extended in instep engaging position and an adjusting member contacting said arm and supported on a rigid bracket adjacent the edge of the heel portion of the shoe supporting the plate, the bracket being supported on the edge of a heel angularly directed to extend forwardly from the heel further adjacent the dorsal lateral than adjacent the inste 7. In combination with a shoe whose heel angularly extends from adjacent the instep forwardly and laterally, a foot corrective device comprising a heel plate having an arm resiliently extended substantially from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral, said arm forwardly overhanging the heel as a fulcrum to apply an upward angularly directed articulated force on the instep end of the arm, and an upwardly effective scaphoid pad supported on said arm.

8. A foot corrective device having, in combination with a shoe whose heel angularly extends from adjacent the instep forwardly and laterally, and a corrective plate thereon, said plate having an arm resiliently extended substantially from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral, to apply an upward unsymmetrical articulated independent force on the instep end of the arm, and an upwardly effective scaphoid pad supported on said arm, said arm being resilient and being bowed upwardly beneath the plate and responding to the weight of the body to articulate the pad supporting arm against the instep with each step.

9. A foot corrective device having, in combination with a shoe whose heel angularly extends from adjacent the instep forwardly and laterally, and a corrective plate thereon, said plate having an arm resiliently extended substantially from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral, to apply an upward unsymmetrical articulated independent force on the instep end of the arm, and an upwardly effective scaphoid pad supported on said arm, said arm being resilient and being bowed upwardly beneath the plate and responding to the weight of the body to articulate the pad supporting arm against the instep with each step, and a tapered wafer pad of resilient ma terial beneath said bowed portion, said scaphoid pad supported arm being rigid beyond the fulcrum adjacent said bowed portion.

10. A foot corrective device having a plate comprising an arm having a branch supported on said plate, the arm extending obliquely to apply a corrective force from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral adjacent the instep, said arm adjacent the instep having an upwardly effective scaphoid pad mounted thereon, and having a portion forming a fulcrum on the heel supported portion and a bowed portion responding to pressure to tilt the arm and the scaphoid pad upward and rearwardly towards the heel, and a camming portion engaging said arm variably to adjust the upward corrective force.

11. A shoe having a corrective device having a plate comprising an arm having a branch supported on said plate, the arm extending obliquely to apply a corrective force from plantar medial toward dorsal lateral adjacent the instep, said arm adjacent the instep having an upwardly effective scaphoid pad mounted thereon, and having a portion forming a fulcrum on the heel supported portion and a bowed portion responding to pressure to tilt the arm and the scaphoid pad upwardly and rearwardly toward the heel, and a camming portion engaging said arm variably to adjust the upward corrective force, and the heel of said shoe having a forward edge extendiEg flrlom adjacent the instep forwardly and laterally of t e s cc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,350,944 Severy Aug. 24, 1920 1,815,164 Schneider July 21, 1931 1,972,899 Odell Sept. 11, 1934 

